Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1887-12-30

torted grandma, with some severity.
"When was married twas daylight
and to home. Eben and me was going
down to Boston for a spell, he was in
old Silas Bunker's store then. / had on
dark blue cloth habit with frogs onto
it, and big Leghorn bonnet with
white feather, real long and curly, an
some red roses under the front ont.
Twas warm an sensible for long ride
in September, and our folks thought l
looked cons; derb'e WE'LL"
The old lady's keen dark eyes and del
icate aquiline profile, though the waved
hair was now snow white, and the small
mouth had lost its color and fullness,
made Nanny acquiesce in Tour folks"
verdict.
81 guess you looked just lovely,
grandma; but"
"Say! here's the doctor" screamed
Thankful Bangs, who was setting the
table for dinner, and Nanny's speech
never was finished, for she and
grandma rushed out to meet the well
come guest.
Two hours after, when the dinner had
been d scussed and tho uests were pick
ing out their walnuts and butternuts,
Mrs. Campbell said suddenly: sob,
Nanny! quite forgot. Here's a little
note that came for you after you left"
Nanny took the envelope, and, after
the fashion of women, eyed it on the out
side, turned it over and examined the
seal, and then returned it and inspected
again the direction and the postmark.
"Seems to me it would be a quicker
way to find out who wrote it if you
opened it" remarked DR.. Campbell.
Nanny laughed, and broke the SEAL
"Oh DEAR" she said, after running
through the brief missive: "Isn't this
provoking 1t is Aida Van Alstyne.
Just hear:
"'MY DEAR NANNY:-T have only found
out to-day that your ''maids' intend to wear
low dresses. l never have given into that
! style yet, but if l could sacrifice what you
would call my preiudices and l call my
principles on any occasion. or for any one, it
would be now for you. However, 1 have a
threatening cold, which l must nurse, and
perhaps you will remember that had pneu-
monia last winter so | cannot for my
health's sake, wear anything but a high
necked and long sleeved dress. Now | shall
not feel tall aggrieved If you drop me from
| the company of bridesmaids ON this account;
but want you to let me know just as soon as
possible, so that l may or may not engage
| Madame Delano.
"'Yours lovingly, ALIDAVAN ALsTYNE.
'Tsn't it too badw exclaimed Nanny,
as she laid down the note.
TOO good-to be true" growled the
doctor.
"What shall l do2" asked Nanny,
looking about her in a sort Of mild de-
spair. "She's my intimate friend, and
was going to be first bride-maid; she's
such nice contrast to me, and Pm so fond
of her! And she's sent me the loveliest
present I've had-Suci a set of pale pink
coral and pearls! Oh dearm
II should think she'd got some sense, >
put in grandma. 81 don't see why you
want to make your weddin' a KILN
business to all them poor young creturs. >
That's just it, mother" said the doc.
tor, putting down the red apple he was
quartering. Last winter there was just
such another wedding. All those girls
had to ride mile to the vestry of St
Faul's; form there, and tramp round tc
the front door of the church; drop theil
wraps off at the door, where the colo
wind struck their bare chests and Shout
ders; stand twenty minutes at the altar
ride back that mile; and stand up all thu
evening at a reception so crowded tina
the windows had to be dropped from thu
top to prevent asphyyia, and then a
midnight drive back TO their homes, thu
thermometer being six below zero
There were six bridemads there; two
had pneumonia within the week; on,
had acute bronchitis; another, tonsilitis
the other two, being tough or case
hardened, escaped with severe colds
So much for l0a0 dresses at a church wed
dingW
Nanny wasn't one of 'em2" asked
grandma, anxiously.
ono; she went to the wedding, bu
by vigorous researches into the POSSIBLE
tiles Of fashion / discovered that youn!
women do sometimes wear what they cal
V-shaped necks to their dresses
fashion that only exposes the most sensi
tive part Of their lungs both in front ant
at the back. However, Madame Dela1o
the autocTat of our city dress makers, is
patient of mine, and l held counsel will
her; so Mistress Nan went to that part,
in very pretty as well as respectable
gown, for | had Madame fill in as sh
called it, that piece-of- pie shaped necl
with thick satin covered with costly lace
ard there were actual sleeves to tn
gown, short, to be sure, but long XII,
gloves met them, so my daughters per
son was not on exhibition like Barnum'
{ fat lady that night, and she was con
soled for being decent and warm agains
her will by the expensive lace and som
new bracelets"
"Oh, papa" exclaimed Nan.
That is just so, my dear; and whe
you came home did you find cup 0
hot broth waiting for you2 and fire i
: your room9 Who do you think ordere
that2
Nan looked at her father with dimme
eyes, and blew a kiss at him across tn
table; she just began to reai the car
that had surrounded her all her days.
J But she must answer that note.
"What shall say to Aida, mammal
! Mrs. Campbell was quiet, sweet
motherly woman; but, more sympathetic
than the doctor, she better understood
how powerful fashion is with gir,s-hov
few have strength of character to with
| stand its stringent if absurd demands.
II don't think you can drop her
Nanny" she said. 81 thir k that wouIt
be unkind and needless. She is to b
| first bridemaid, and therefore stand mex
to you; and as you are to wear a higl
/ dress hers will not be as conspicuous a
r if she were among the others. I agre
entirely with your father, and l am glat
it was not your suggestion that the res
| should wear low dresses"
So the matter was settled, and in du
time the wedding came off. 1t was
J pretty wedding, as Nanny had assure,